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Wolexis' Top 5's: Papilo And The Other Top Africans To Play For Arsenal

Welcome to this week's edition of Wolexis' Top 5s: African Spotlight. Last week, if you remember we took our focus to Stamford Bri...

Welcome to this week's edition of Wolexis' Top 5s: African Spotlight. Last week, if you remember we took our focus to Stamford Bridge covering the African legends to have featured for the club.This week, we move to another club in London as we visit the Emirates Stadium to bring to you the top five African players to feature for Arsenal. Arsenal have a rich list of African players to play for the club with a couple currently plying their trade for the Gunners.It was quite a difficult one trying to streamline this one to just the very five, but anyways, here are our very best.Alex SongStarting the countdown at number 4 is Cameroonian midfielder, Alex Song. The midfielder joined Arsenal in 2005 in a loan move from Bastia in France before making the move permanent for £1 million the following season. He would move to Charlton to aid his development and would return to Emirates a better player.

Alex Song- Cameroon

Song would score his first goal for the club against Liverpool at Anfield in a 6-3 League Cup win. His breakthrough season would come in 2008/09 season with the midfielder establishing himself as a key member alongside Cesc Fabregas. Although no honors won at Arsenal, Song would make 215 appearances for the Gunners scoring 10 goals before joining Barcelona. The player is currently with Rubin Kazan in Russia.Emmanuel AdebayorOnce a cult figure at Arsenal, Emmanuel Adebayor's place on this list is without question. Baby Kanu would join the Gunners from Monaco in France in a £3m move in the winter transfer window of 2006. Adebayor would be quick off the start scoring 21 minutes into his Arsenal debut against Birmingham.

Emmanuel Adebayor- Togo

The Togolese striker would make his way into Premier League history by scoring a hat-trick against the same team (Derby County) in the same season. He would go on to have successful seasons before leaving the club in July of 2009 to join Man City. Adebayor would score 62 goals in 143 appearances for the club with 30 goals in 40 starts in the 2007/08 season.Kolo ToureAt number 3 is Ivorien defender, Kolo Toure. Joining Arsenal from ASEC Mimosas for a fee of £150,000 in February of 2002, Toure would go on to establish himself as an important defender in the Arsenal side with a partnership with Sol Campbell that paid good dividends.

Kolo Toure- Ivory Coast

Toure would go on to be in the bracket of top defenders in the league and would see himself rise to role of vice-captain and occasionally leading the team out as captain. Things would come to a strange end in 2009 with the defender asking to be transferred after a reported fallout with defensive partner William Gallas. Kolo would switch to Man City in the summer of 2009 for a reported £14 million transfer fee.As a Gunner, Toure scored 14 goals in 326 appearances for the club, winning a historical 2004 Premier League title, two F.A Cups, two Community Shields, and a losers' medal in the UEFA Champions League.LaurenAnother Cameroonian to grace this list is Arsenal's utility player Lauren. He joined Arsenal in the summer of 2000 from Mallorca for a fee around £7.2 million and would go on to become the club's first choice right-back replacing Lee Dixon. By the time Arsenal had won the Double in 2001–02, Lauren was an integral part of the Arsenal defence.

Lauren- Cameroon

Lauren was a consistent member of the Arsenal first team during 2003–04 and a became known as one of the 'Invincibles' after the club went the whole season unbeaten. He would made his 150th appearance for Arsenal during the record breaking run and Arsenal won the Premier League title, giving him his second League winners' medal. A year-long injury would see him lose his position in the club and would subsequently join Portsmouth. Lauren would win two league titles, three F.A Cups, and two Community Shields with Arsenal.Kanu NwankwoThe player is undeniably the greatest Afrcian player to ever play for Arsenal. In February 1999, after just twelve games and one goal for Inter, Kanu was signed by Arsenal for approximately £4.15 million.

Kanu Nwankwo- Nigeria

He scored his first goal for the club in an F.A Cup against Derby County, coming off the bench to net the only goal of the game. Kanu quickly became known for his goalscoring prowess from the bench and very popular among the fans for his two-fingered salute something that he later explained was based on the team's nickname, The Gunners.During his time with the Gunners, the Nigerian legend would score 44 goals in 197 appearances for the club winning two league titles, two F.A Cups, and a Community Shield before joining West Brom on a free transfer in the summer of 2004. To crown and validate his place on our list, in a Gunners' Greatest 50 Players' Poll, Kanu was voted 13th, if that doesn't drop the mic, nothing else will.